Traveler Reviews

• Peter_a 04-Jul-2023

  Boat could not visit Desertas due to winds. Instead initially sailed south from Funchal which enabled us to observe cetaceans and seabirds. This fully offset the initial disappointment at the change of route. It was an excellent plan.

• Dennis_from_canada 08-Sep-2022

  The islands themselves are unique experience but there are just about 200 m to walk, so basically it is one-time experience. And it was totally ruined by VMT. I live on Madeira for about 4 months now and my windows are overlooking Desertas Islands - so I see that most of the time its beautiful weather there. And trip in such weather should be amazing. However we were stupid enough to prepay the trip and on the day the weather was terrible. The cruise should have been cancelled but VMT would lose money. So when the crew put on heavy wind breakers I realized we are in trouble. (they tell you to bring warm clothes but I would never had SO warm clothes on Madeira). On catamaran there are no place to hide from the rain, wind and splashes of waves and crew was lazy to put down covers. I was literally hiding in a tiny cabin near washrooms otherwise I would be completely wet. And with the wind it was cold enough to get sick if you are wet. But the crew was bold enough to put a can with a huge black letters TIPS and directly requested tips after the trip. We paid 80 EURO each so I would expect the crew is paid well enough. Again – Islands are worth visiting, but do not do prepayment – just walk in on the day (they have enough spots). Also – choose Bonita (another ship) – there you would have closed cabin to hide from bad weather.

• Kim V 25-Aug-2022

  Met de boot 3 uur lange toch naar Desertas island gevaren. Hier een kleine rondleiding gehad (10 min) daarna kunnen zwemmen en sullen. Grote vissen gezien en zelfs een zeehond liet zich nog even zien. Prima lunch en daarna weer terug naar Funchal.

• Marisol_b 24-Aug-2022

  Positif : On a adoré le catamaran, le paysage, l'équipage s'est détourné de son chemin quelques minutes pour pouvoir voir des cétacés, ils étaient fort amables, une bonne navigation et un repas tout à fait correcte. Pas trop de soleil quand nous avons fait la courte promenade avec explications sur la isla deserta, du coup on n'a pas insisté pour nous faire prêter des palmes ou un tuba, mais il n'a pas non plus été proposé. Pas de baignade sur le bord de l'île donc, mais non plus sur le bateau à cause de la présence de phoques (qu'on comprend). Point négatif : Le repas s'est retardé à cause du retour tardif au catamaran (alors qu'on attendait au bord de la plage et que le membre de l'équipage se reposait dans son zodiac), du coup on est repartis alors qu'on mangeait encore, pas facile d'aller chercher le dessert alors que le catamaran vogue dans l'océan. Mais ça reste quand même une super expérience.

• Madalenasintra 29-Jul-2022

  Foi uma experiência única que devem fazer. Tripulação muito simpática e prestável. Vimos uma baleia, um tubarão e uma tartaruga, e não faltaram os golfinhos. Almoço muito generoso. Recomendo o passeio

• 559morganec 22-Jul-2022

  We spent a really good time on board and on the island, with good weather conditions. The crew is great ! Excellent day !

• Tricia P 18-Jul-2022

  We did a block of 3 cruises...this one, a sunset cruise and a daytime dolphin cruise. The catamaran was clean, staff were polite and informative and there was a small bar selling a few drinks and snacks reasonably priced. The only downside to the Desertas cruise is the 2½ hours it takes to get there and the large, rocky beach area. They should warn you that you will get wet feet and possibly up to your knees when they put you in a dinghy to land you on the beach. We felt with the daytime dolphin cruise they out too many passengers on and it's hard to watch the dolphins and whales. Overall a wonderful experience watching the pilot whales, spotted dolphins and, on the island cruise, the endangered monk seals.

• Nicholas M 12-Jul-2022

  I have been twice on this day trip in June and July 2022. First of all, this trip is not for you if you do not appreciate wilderness and nature, in my opinion at least. If you like cheap and cheerful, take one of the dolphin cruises to see them and then along the coast to swim. This is a 3-hour trip each way, and the catamaran handles the rougher seas near Desertas perfectly. Admittedly, there is not that much to do at Desertas, and there are restrictions as to where you can wander, which isn't far. You can swim, surf-board, or snorkel in the bay, looking out for fish or even a Monk Seal. The staff are excellent and cannot do enough for you, and a drink (fresh beer on tap) and a meal is provided (meat, fish, veg, salad). There are w.c's on board, always a bonus. Again some may find the 3-hour trip boring, if so this trip is not for you. But I enjoy nature watching and saw several rare Desertas Petrels, lots of Bulwer's Petrels and Cory's Shearwaters, as well as a Loggerhead turtle, Flying Fish, Portuguese Man of War, and on the first trip Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, though if you just like to see Dolphins just take one of the 3 hour round trips around the Bay of Funchal. Either way, it was thoroughly enjoyable just to be out on the sea. For me it was excellent value for money despite there not being much at the destination, in the hands of an excellent hard-working and dedicated crew. But be aware what you are booking and what your expectations of the trip are.

• Alextraveller929 03-Jul-2022

  Equipa divertida, profissional, simpática e prestável. Nota máxima a todos. Um must numa visita à Madeira. Ir de Catamaran é muito mais espectacular do que ir no barco convencional. O capitão navegou à vela, muito mais belo, motivante e ecológico, do que usar o barulhento motor da concorrência

• Claire O 28-Oct-2021

  This trip was not worth €80 euros each or €320 for a family of 4! The journey to the island took 3 hours. Once at the island, what we had been told by the rep selling us the trip, would be a hike around the island was actually a 10 minute walk around 5/6 information boards with the guide explaining what they said. You could not hike/walk around the island and the photographs on their promotional leaflet are very misleading as it shows people setting off on a walk. We then had about an hour for lunch/paddle boarding and snorkelling. Then it was another 3 hours to return back to Funchal. The staff were lovely and very helpful, and the buffet lunch was good. However, I would not recommend this trip as it is overpriced and we have just been on the jeep safari today which was half the price and so much better!